Modern Mythos with Jon and Seth Modern Mythos ep.35
Jan 22, 2024
Justin Alexander, author and creator of The Alexandrian, is a bestselling GM educator and game designer. He explains the three-clue rule, revelation lists, and node-based mystery design. He shares quick NPC templates, city and urban crawl techniques, and practical tips for learning and playtesting new RPGs.
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Episode notes
Conspiracy Player Derails Investigations
- Seth described a conspiracy-theorist player who persistently misinterprets clues and derails investigations.
- Justin uses redundant clues to reinforce correct paths and gently nudge that player back on course.
Use One Physical Mannerism Per NPC
- Give each NPC a short physical mannerism as an acting touchstone to jump into character quickly.
- Use that gesture sparingly so players can cue who's speaking without needing many voices.
Inverting Clues Enables Node-Based Play
- Invert the three clue rule for node-based design: three clues will push players toward at least one conclusion.
- Node design opens non-linear investigation while still using clue redundancy to reinforce nodes.
